Founders of Thanksgiving Point, WordPerfect, honored with Pioneer in Leadership Award
Alan and Karen Ashton speak at a gala recognizing their leadership on Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2017.
Alan Ashton speaks at a gala recognizing him and his wife, Karen Ashton, on Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2017.
Karen Ashton speaks at a gala recognizing her and her husband, Alan Ashton, on Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2017.
Alan and Karen Ashton are awarded with the Pioneer in Leadership Award on Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2017.
Alan and Karen Ashton were honored Wednesday night with the Pioneer in Leadership Award presented by the Brigham Young University Management Society, Utah Valley Chapter, for their role as “exemplary executives.”
The Ashtons have been in the business of Utah Valley for decades. In 1987, Alan Ashton left a teaching post at Brigham Young University to serve as the president and CEO of WordPerfect. When the company was acquired by Novell in 1994, the Ashtons then went on to co-found Thanksgiving Point in Lehi.
Thanksgiving Point, a landmark of Lehi and Utah Valley, had more than 3 million guests come to the iconic family fun center in 2015 for a variety of events and activities.
“I just want them to know that there are a lot of people who look at you as that megastar for what you have accomplished and what you have brought to society and for how many people you have served,” said Leroy Transfield, sculptor of the Pioneer in Leadership Award. “We know it’s not just for your professional accomplishments, but for what you have done in the community and in the church.”
Karen Ashton was instrumental in the community and was one of the brains behind the Timpanogos Storytelling Festival, which is now the largest storytelling festival in the West.
The Ashtons served as the president and matron of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ Provo Utah Temple from 2013 to 2016.
Their service at the temple was far from typical. With the Payson temple opening to the south in 2015 and the Provo City Center Temple in 2016, the Ashtons had to divide and relocate about 3,000 temple workers. It was an arduous task, as Karen Ashton said, but one they will always cherish as a building experience.
“I saw this community come and move forward, solidified and unified in a way I could have never imagined,” she said.
As said by Geoff Germane, a member of the board of directors of the BYU Management Society, he was grateful to the Ashtons and their focus on prioritizing families in their business and community endeavors.
“It struck me that the focus and primary beneficiary of their service has been families,” Germane said.
The Ashtons join such dignitaries as Glenn Beck, Bill and Donna Marriott, Sheri Dew and LaVell Edwards as recipients of the Pioneer in Leadership Award.
“We’re very grateful and we’re honored this evening,” Alan Ashton said.
Germane expressed his gratitude and admiration of the Ashtons and their indelible zeal to make Utah County’s community and business endeavors flourish.
“For those that know the Ashtons, it goes without saying why they were chosen as the recipients for the award,” Germane said. “They’ve accomplished so much and had a tremendous impact as leaders.”
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